Melatonin as a Promising Agent for Cancer Treatment: Insights into its Effects on the Wnt/beta-catenin Signaling Pathway.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate melatonin's anti-cancer properties, focusing on its effects on cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, and its regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
Results Summary
Melatonin demonstrated significant inhibitory effects on cancer cell proliferation by promoting apoptosis and inducing cell cycle arrest, mediated through modulation of transcription factors, growth factors, and inflammatory cytokines. It showed promise in reversing oncogenic agents and regulating key signaling pathways.
Population
Human cancers (not specified further)
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Melatonin | decrease | cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis | - | - | is a significant inhibitor of | #1 |
Melatonin | decrease | different transcription factors, growth factors, inflammatory cytokines, protein kinases, and other oncogenic agents | - | - | reversing the up-regulated amounts of | #2 |
Melatonin | decrease | cancer cell proliferation | - | - | has significant inhibitory effects on | #3 |
Melatonin | increase | apoptosis | - | - | promoting | #4 |
Melatonin | increase | cell cycle arrest | - | - | inducing | #5 |
In recent years, substantial advances have been made in cancer treatment modalities. Yet, within the last three decades, neither cancer incidence nor the cancer-induced mortality rate has changed. Available anti-cancer chemotherapeutics possess remarkably restricted effectiveness and often have severe adverse effects. Hence, the identification of novel pharmaceutical agents that do not exhibit these major disadvantages is imperative. Melatonin, an important endogenous molecule synthesized and secreted by the pineal gland, is a promising chemical agent that has been comprehensively assessed over the last decades for its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Melatonin is reportedly a significant inhibitor of cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. The anti-- cancer potential of melatonin is principally mediated by reversing the up-regulated amounts of different transcription factors, growth factors, inflammatory cytokines, protein kinases, and other oncogenic agents. Also, melatonin often has signifcant inhibitory effects on cancer cell proliferation through either promoting apoptosis or inducing cell cycle arrest. The current review provides an insight into melatonin-induced effects against various human cancers with a particular focus on the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.